Yamaha: Signing Rossi best thing we ever did

Securing Valentino Rossi's signature back in 2004 was 'the best thing we've ever done, confesses Yamaha Motor Racing managing director Lin Jarvis following 'The Doctor's ninth world championship success in Malaysia

Yamaha Motor Racing managing director Lin Jarvis has admitted that prising Valentino Rossi away from Honda six years ago was 'the best thing we've ever done' in the company's long racing history – and confessed that he hopes to be able to persuade the record-breaking MotoGP legend to remain on-board beyond the end of his current contract in 2010.

MOTOGP

Valentino Rossi heads into the 2009 MotoGP season finale at Valencia eager to bring his title-winning season to an ideal conclusion

With the title already in the bag, Valentino Rossi heads to the final round of the 2009 MotoGP season at Valencia eager to bring his year to a perfect close.

Having wrapped up victory with a run to third position last time out in Malaysia, Rossi has avoided taking the title fight down to the wire around a circuit that hasn't been so kind to him in the past.

Indeed, although he has been a winner at the Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo – most recently in 2004 -, Rossi admits he hasn't enjoyed the best of fortunes in Spain.

Nonetheless, with no title to fight for this time around, Rossi is confident that, with the pressure off, he can go out and enjoy himself this year.

"I am very happy to be going to the final race with the championship won and the pressure off, now we can just enjoy ourselves," the Fiat Yamaha rider said. "It's been a fantastic year and now we just have one more weekend before we start work for 2010. 

“Valencia hasn't been a great track for me in the past and I've had some bad times there, but at the moment we're in great shape and our bike is working well everywhere we go, so I hope it will be the same at Valencia. 

“It's a great place to finish and the atmosphere is amazing, so we will just do our best and hope for another good race to end off a great season. On Monday we will start working on the new M1 and I'm very excited to try it!"